Electronic analyte assaying device

• US 9,453,850 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2014
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Church & Dwight Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Church & Dwight Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Sturman, Andy, Zin, Benedict, Nazareth, Albert, Bell, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Xu, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/453,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20150017068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/17 Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated where the material investigated is optically excited causing a change in wavelength of the incident light G01N21/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/12 Circuits of general importance; Signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2333/59 Follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH]; Chorionic gonadotropins, e.g. HCG; Luteinising hormone [LH]; Thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48785 Electrical and electronic details of measuring devices for physical analysis of liquid biological material not specific to a particular test method, e.g. user interface or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48792 Data management, e.g. communication with processing unit for in vivo diagnostics A61B5/0002; transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/493 urine
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/62 involving urea
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/689 related to pregnancy or the gonads
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/76 Human chorionic gonadotropin including luteinising hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone or their receptors

Abstract

An improved electronic diagnostic device for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid sample comprises a casing having a display, a test strip mounted in the casing, a processor mounted in the casing, and a first sensor mounted in the casing and operatively coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to receive a signal from the first sensor when the device is exposed to ambient light thereby causing the device to become activated. The device includes a light shield that exerts pressure across a width of the test strip to prevent fluid channeling along the length of the test strip. The processor is configured to present an early positive test result reading when a measured value exceeds a predetermined early reading threshold value at any time after a predetermined early testing time period.

Claims

1. A diagnostic device for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid sample, the device comprising:

a. a casing having a display;

b. a test strip mounted in said casing, said test strip having a length and a width and a test result site located thereon;

c. a light shield mounted in said casing adjacent said test strip, said light shield having at least two through holes formed therein;

d. a processor mounted in said casing;

e. a sensor mounted in said casing adjacent one of said at least two through holes, said sensor being operatively coupled to said processor;

f. a light source mounted in said casing adjacent to the other of said at least two through holes, said light source being operatively coupled to said processor;

wherein a portion of said light shield is configured to exert pressure across said width of said test strip to inhibit uneven fluid channeling along said length of said test strip.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor mounted in said casing adjacent to one of said at least two through holes with said sensor, said second sensor being operatively coupled to said processor, wherein a derivative is calculated by subtracting a signal from one of said sensor and said second sensor from a signal of the other of said sensor and said second sensor.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein

a. said processor is configured to receive a signal froth said sensors;

and

b. when said derivative of said signal reading from said sensors is greater than an early positive result threshold value at any time after a predetermined time period, said processor is configured to display a positive result message on said display.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said early positive result threshold value is greater than a normal predetermined threshold value, and said predetermined time period is less than a standard time period.